While we tend not to work in our own best interests, I was just wondering how many of us believe we work in the best interest of others. Are we do-gooders, or are we selfish? Do we go out of our way to help, or do we avoid anything that will cost us?
Don't get me wrong, because I don't expect anyone to truthfully answer this, but I do think it is worth reflecting on. As while we might not speak the truth, perhaps we as individuals will recognise some gaps in ourselves and consider if they should be filled. And for some, it might be that we should help others less at times, something that I have been told on a few occasions throughout my life, and I tend to agree with. I think that being too "selfless" at times has cost me the ability to be more effective, and it has definitely cost me opportunity that would have benefited myself and family. So if my goal is to build a strong family, I have often failed perhaps unnecessarily, and the net gain has been far less than it would have been for all concerned.
There have also been occasions I haven't helped people enough in my opinion, but they tend to be on fewer occasions, or with things where the cost was just so high, I felt I couldn't do it. But maybe I could have? Dunno. I don't have any fear of going to hell though, since firstly I don't believe in that nonsense and secondly, if I am wrong and it does exist, I am happy to be kicked out of heaven as a non-believer, and welcomed in hell as a relatively decent person.
I was thinking about this in regards to a couple comments on articles recently and how while we want better, we are our own worst enemies. Not just because we get in the way of ourselves and spend most of our global resources on holding each other back at scale, but because also at the interpersonal level, we tend not to be very charitable and will often justify our bad behaviour toward others because we feel that we are entitled to something that they have, and we want.
Even thieves and criminals want to live with personal safety.
So, do you think that you are going to be thrown into the fire, or will your actions in life reserve you a place in heaven? It doesn't matter whether you believe or not, just answer as if heaven and hell do exist. Though, if they don't exist, what is the reason to be good in life?
For me at least, I have thought about this and have a selfish reason that I have a daughter, and I want her to live in a world that is filled with beauty and opportunity. That is not the world I believe we are creating though and are instead pushing humanity down into the depths of darkness. That might sound pretty bleak and extreme, but on the current paths, I give us about ten years and a lot of other people will be seeing the same.
We could do something to turn it around.
That will take action and a lot of energy and there is little incentive for the current crop of corporations and politicians to lead the way. Instead, the only way the world is going to get significantly better, is if a significant amount of people change.
Someone said, "be the change" once upon a time.
But who is going to embrace that mindset, when it doesn't make a profit?
Heaven won't take me.
Hell can't handle me.
Forever in purgatory?
Taraz
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I have loved giving gifts to those around me since childhood. In kindergarten, they were toys; later on, other things. I simply enjoyed doing it. After turning thirty, I realized that our actions likely shape our future. And when I continued giving those around me what they needed, I did so consciously.
As for "hell" and "heaven," it is possible that consciousness in another dimension follows its own train of thought—much like in dreams. These thoughts and images are drawn from one's experience of material life; thus, one attracts what corresponds to the way one lived. Like attracts like.
I don't think I give that much on terms of things, but I do with my time and efforts.
Like might attract like in some respects, but I am not sure the universe cares too much about what we think.